This year, my summer cold delayed its annual arrival.
It waited till fall, to gather strength, and I feared for my survival!

First came the coughing, then weepy eyes, the stuffy head and sneezing...
The runny nose, with one side blocked, and finally the wheezing.

Swallowing pills, drinking juice, then taking to my bed...
Watching TV around the clock, and wishing I were dead.

Feed a cold? Starve a cold?... has always been the question...
"Too sick to cook; just eat junk!"...that answer seemed the best one.

Burning up, I switched on the fan, to dry my sweat-soaked hair...
When getting chilled, slipped on my robe, and dozed off in my chair.

Dried out lips, red sore nose, puffy eyes and face...
Cold cream here, Chapstick there, and tissues everyplace.

Took a shower, put on some clothes, felt better on day five...
Walked outside, then wrote this note to tell you I'm alive!

Now you may think that this is strange to mail you such an ode...
I would have gladly phoned it in, but you see, I have this CODE! (ah-ah-ah-CHOO!)

Pastor Moser
September 24, 2002